Police are searching for the suspects who threatened an employee while committing a smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store inside Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills.
The Vernon Hills Police Department responded around 11:25 a.m. Monday to Z Fine Jewelry, 511 Hawthorn Center in Vernon Hills for a call of a robbery.
Vernon Hills Police Department Public Information Officer Jeff Hemesath said the two suspects involved were armed with hammers.
An employee told police that the suspects used the hammers to break a jewelry display case.
The suspects stole an unknown quantity of jewelry from the case.
One suspect threatened an employee with a hammer when they called 911, Hemesath said.
No employees were injured during the robbery.
The offenders are described as two males, unknown race, wearing dark hoodies and black masks.
The suspects were last seen driving towards Milwaukee Avenue in a dark-colored SUV, Hemesath said.
An alert issued to area police departments said the vehicle was possibly a Jeep Cherokee with out-of-state license plates.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Vernon Hills Police Department Investigations Unit at 847-918-5601.